2 Chronicles 10

The Kingdom Breaks Apart at Shechem

1To Shechem Rehoboam went, since it was at Shechem that all Israel had gathered to make him king. 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it — he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon — Jeroboam came back from Egypt. 3They sent for him, and Jeroboam came with all Israel, and they said to Rehoboam: 4“Your father made our yoke harsh. Now lighten the harsh labour your father imposed and the heavy yoke he laid on us, and we will serve you.” 5He answered them, “Come back to me in three days.” And the people went away. 6King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had attended his father Solomon while he was alive. “What do you advise?” he asked. “How am I to answer this people?” 7They replied, “If you are good to this people, and win them over, and speak kindly to them, they will be your servants for good.” 8But he set aside the advice the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now stood in his service. 9He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer this people, who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father laid on us’?” 10The young men who had grown up with him said, “To the people who told you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; you make it lighter for us’ — say this to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11My father loaded a heavy yoke on you; I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips; I will use scorpions.’” 12On the third day Jeroboam came to Rehoboam with all the people, just as the king had directed: “Come back to me on the third day.” 13The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam set aside the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised: “I will make your yoke heavy; I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips; I will use scorpions.”* 15So the king would not listen to the people; the turn of events came from God, so that Yahweh might make good the word he had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16Seeing that the king would not listen to them, all Israel gave the king their answer: “What portion is ours in David? We hold no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Away to your tents, Israel! See to your own house now, David!” And Israel, every one of them, went off to their tents. 17As for the Israelites living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18King Rehoboam then sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labour, and the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam himself barely managed to get into his chariot and flee to Jerusalem. 19So Israel has been in revolt against the house of David to this day.